Is there a native function for opening File Browse window?

[xbrotherx]

I have a Macromedia Flash based font end that transfers data back and forth using AMFPHP (php based Flash Remoting).

What I can not find, and remember I am a super php newbie, is a native function or even a custom function in PHP that I can call to open a browser's File Browse window so the user can select a file and then send that file name and it's path back to the PHP file as a String once the user accepts and closes the window. Then I just grab the variable that contains that String and with AMFPHP remoting I throw it back to Flash to display in the interface.

I have the sending data back and forth between PHP and Flash working. I just need the ability to open that File Browsing window and grab the path and file name of the selected file.

Preferably, I would like to skip the opening of an HTML or PHP page in the browser that has the form tag <input type=file...> to open the File Browser.

Any ideas, suggestions, grumblings?

[Gasolene]

php is a server side language, opening a file-browser windows is a client task.

the only way to get date from the client to php is sending it in the headers via a form or url string.

the actual php code never leaves the server, it just creates html and sends the html. thus php cannot communicate with any application that is not on the server.

you'll have to use a form or a fancy javascript.